RE: From JAMES TYLER: "So, here's the story...."

[John Ziegler]

being a personal friend of jim's(and also a long-time client), i thought this would be of the utmost interest and importance to all, specifically concerning james tyler and his guitars.

reposted: directly from James Tyler on the hri webboard(2/10/08)....

First off, I would like to thank everyone around the world that has called, emailed, or mailed me well wishes, encouragements and told me that they are praying for me. It has been truly humbling.

Last year when I sent out the notice to my dealers that I had some serious health problems and that I would be downsizing and taking some time to get well, I really thought it would be low key, I would just fade out of the scene, take care of my personal business, and take it easy for a time while I figure some things out.

I never, ever, thought that some of the dealers would have so little respect for my privacy and post it on their websites.

I never thought about a lot of stuff I guess, because while I care about my guitars, I just don’t care about being famous and I don’t factor it into my everyday life. I don’t usually think in those terms, and I never dreamed there would be this much notice in the international guitar community. In my head, I am just some guy doing my job, dealing with the everyday problems that this job has. And if some guy, with some job, takes some time off, who cares?

Anyway, the rumors, speculation, misunderstandings, miscommunications and outright lies have grown to a place where I figured I would come here and explain everything. No matter how much I wish I am just some guy in Los Angeles, clearly I am not, and people around the world are wondering what is going on, and why. So here we go...

I haven’t been well for years. It wasn’t bad enough that I couldn’t work, but that was all I could do. I went to doctors a few times a year for several years and got nowhere. Things slowly got worse, I was coughing all the time, I couldn’t sleep, and I felt really bad. I had trouble breathing, eating made me feel bad, you get the picture – it wasn’t pretty. In and out of the doctor’s office time after time and all they told me was you are OK and you can use this inhaler if you want.

Last year things were getting worse again and also the ringing in my ears got louder all of a sudden and my equilibrium was feeling funny. I went back to the doctor and they thought the ringing was probably from all the years of shooting guns, loud cars, loud motorcycles, loud music and sitting too close to Landaus amp. The equilibrium was probably an inner ear infection, which would make the ringing louder, and they told me to see a specialist. They took a chest X-ray and then told me I had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. They weren’t very helpful with explaining anything to me, and they were going to “keep an eye on it”. I did Internet research and found that every year in America, 25% of the deaths are from this disease.

So last summer I took a few vacations, the first real vacations I ever took actually. I found there was a whole new world besides working 12 hours a day, and working 6 and 7 days a week. I took some time to think, and decided that I was probably killing myself the way I was going and things needed to change.

So I decided to downsize and take it easy. I didn’t want to do this anymore. There are other things I wanted to do and I had other business interests I would focus on that were a lot more enjoyable, more profitable, and WAY less stress. I decided I didn’t want to live in Califexico anymore, and once I moved, maybe I just wouldn’t build guitars anymore... I just didn’t know.

With downsizing I wouldn’t be able to supply all the dealers in a fair way, if at all. So I sent out a notice to all the dealers informing them of my health problems, and told them that I wasn’t going to accept any more orders for at least a year or so until I sorted things in my life out.

I sent that notice out in September (that was my birthday present to myself). A few days later, doctors did an MRI of my head to see if there was an infection in my inner ear, and found that I have a brain tumor. I was lucky enough (finally) to be referred to a doctor who is part of one of the premier clinics in the world that specializes in this. I saw him a few weeks later and he said that the tumor is benign, it isn’t very big and they can take it out. I should be 100% afterward. The surgery will be in April, right after the Long Beach Grand Prix (I do have priorities after all...). I will be out of the shop for about 2 months during that time.

With all that set up, I got back to working on the lung problem. I found that the original doctor I saw who diagnosed the problem had left that clinic. I decided to go see a pulmonary specialist, and set that up. Last week I saw the new guy, he did tests, another X-ray and told me that I had been completely misdiagnosed. I didn’t have any serious lung disease after all; I had Asthma, and really bad acid-reflux, which can cause in my case, additional asthmatic conditions and symptoms. I have also developed extreme chemical sensitivities do to all the crap I have been breathing without a mask for so many years. The doctor gave me some new medicine for the asthma and acid reflux, and the next day I felt better than I had felt in maybe 4 years. It was just amazing. I went from thinking that I may be dead in a few years to feeling good almost overnight. By the end of this year I should be better than ever.

Having gone through all this for almost a year, I have come to realizations. I just do not want to do what I have been doing anymore. I am 56 and it is time for a change. I want to explore other creative outlets. I want to get back into photography (where I almost had a degree 30 years ago before I got sidetracked into this business), I want to create art, and I want to get back into sports car racing.

We will still build a limited amount of guitars at my shop and sell them direct once we have filled dealer orders. There are still a lot of dealer orders to be filled in the next few months, so keep checking with the dealers if you want a guitar.

So there is my story... hopefully all the bullshit is put to rest. Hopefully everyone can understand my reasoning.

And again, thanks to everyone for their kindness, and it’s time to take down the “Get well – JT” thread.

Jim

[dkap]

Good for him that it's nothing too serious. And doubly good for him that he's doing what's right for his life and his mind/head.

[whoismarykelly]

Prices skyrocketing in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

[gerryguitar]

he's built some wonderful amazing instruments..... but their's more to life and he knows it... good on him I say.... all the best Jim....

[JDouglee]

It takes guts to make a change like that, for your quality of life. Jim I wish you health and happiness in spades.

:AOK

[hellfighter]

Oh man, I've got to find another one fast!

[edwarddavis]

You sound like quite a guy, I really am moved by reading this and all I can say is GOOD FOR YOU!!!. Enjoy life . You made a lot of people happy , now its your turn. I don`t own any of yours guitars but after reading that I wish I did seeing what cool guy you must be, Good luck and best of health to you .

[JackButler]

Well, I am glad things will be looking up for him healthwise. That stuff is super scary, been through lots of it myself for years.
If Jim reads, this be well sir!
I can't blame him one bit fro making life changes, you have to follow your heart. Even things like music needs to be set aside sometimes and reevaluated so you don't end up up hating something you orginally loved.
Good luck Jim!

[Curly]

actually a pretty informative letter for a number of reasons, and a couple of things we all could take to heart

I've played, but don't own a Tyler. I liked the fact that, from a design standpoint, he rethought the idea of a strat, and what it could be.

anyway, best wishes for James in his future endeavors.

[Trandy]

In the end all this guitar/amp stuff doesn't matter a damn compared to your health.

Screw it James...do whatever makes you happy.

You've earned the right.

[bluesmain]

Sounds like a great guy! I wish him the best!!!

[slopeshoulder]

He was, as he says, probably brining most of it on himself through lifestyle and neglect (except for that pesky tumor). GLAD he has good treatment, lifestyle changes, goals, etc. He'll be fine. Thank goodness. Seems liek a great guy.
And sure, let him make 20 guitars a year and charge 10K for them. Why not?

[lifeson1]

I'm a proud Tyler owner (I actually sold my studio elite two days before he made the announcement (DOH!) - but I still have my number one classic. . . I visited Jim and the factory last summer, and was heartbroken and concerned when I found out about his health issues a few months later. Everyone deserves their privacy, so it's a shame that Jim has to put out his own personal press release, in addition to all the other issues he's dealing with. He's NEVER one to beat around the bush, I wish him and his staff all the best in these difficult times. . .

[AlligatorMtn]

good for him - I was looking into one of his guitars, guess I'll go ahead and put that idea on the back burner, the prices are about to go through the roof.

[John Hurtt]

Met him last month, he and his crew took the time to swap out the bridge on my Burning Water. While that was cool, he also took the time out of his busy day to fine tune the setup after the swap.

All for free...

All the best, glad the news has gotten better James!